Short Track Speed Skating Meet

Saturday, January 9, 2010 Burnaby Haida Speed Skating Club hosts its annual Interclub Short Track Speed Skating Meet at the Bill Copeland Arena located at the Burnaby Lake Sports Complex, 3676 Kensington Ave. (at Sprott St.) Burnaby, BC V5B 4Z6. Races run from 8 am to 4 pm. Come learn about this FAST exciting sport. See some of BC’s up-and-coming racers in action. All age groups, from the youngest Cradles category to the senior Masters skaters will compete. Free admission.

Thanks to Scotiabank North and Austin Roads Branch in Coquitlam for their support of this event

Silver Sponsor
BYY Quantity Surveyors B.C. Ltd.

Bronze Sponsors
Flow Consulting Group Inc.
Craven / Huston / Powers Architects

Sponsors
Genivar Consultants Limited Partnership
Alpha Mechanical Contracting Ltd.

Folks at the Burnaby Haida Speed Skating Club practice were excited to see and hold one of the Olympic Torches before the start of its Canadian relay in Victoria on October 30. Pictured with the Olympic Torch are Alex Ge, coach Alice Ha, Nerys and her Dad Kyle Kirkwood.

Photo Taken October 3

Need gloves, check your local LBS (local bike store), they’ll likely be clearing out winter cycling gloves at 30-40% off.

I saw these guys on for 30% at Sharpey’s in Richmond.
And these ones for 60% off at John Henry’s in North Van. (okay I bought the last pair).

Burnaby Haida Speed Skating Club won its second major club award of 2009 on the February 28 weekend when it came home from the Southern Regional Short Track Speed Skating Championship with the Agatha Van Der Starre Trophy for the club that earned the most points.  Hosted by the Matsqui Blades at the Abbotsford Recreation Centre, the Championship attracted 15 clubs and 122 athletes, 16 of them from the Burnaby club

The Burnaby Haida Speed Skating Club won the Neil Dyer Award as the club with the most points at the BC Long Track Championship staged January 23 – 25, 2009  at the new Richmond Olympic Oval.  This the first time the club has won the award.

Competing against 21 other clubs, 27 Burnaby skaters of all ages from ten to 78 raced in distances ranging from 300 m to 3,000 m.

According to head coach Ariana van der Starre, this was one award that long alluded the club since they have always had to travel long distances to compete in long track.  The club runs short track speed skating training at the Kensington Arena.

This Championship was a significant competition for club members.  Michelle Pepin took Age Class Champion in the Senior Ladies category and Ana Vogl qualified to compete in the Canadian Age Class Long Track Championships in Regina, February 14 and 15, 2009.  Woman’s M1 Gold medalist Diane Silzer set two new BC mass start records for covered ovals, and Men’s M1 Gold Medalist Winson Chan set three records.

Gold medals were won by Charlotte Keay, Kaito McLeod, Michelle Pepin, Diane Silzer, Kathy Kealey, Yoko Beriault, Burnaby Sports Hall of Fame member Agatha van der Starre, Winson Chan and Herman Bosman.  Silver medals were won by Victor Dinamarca Orrock, Kiersten Hagen, Ana Vogl, Josh Der, Jackie Humber and Agatha van der Starre.  Skating away with bronze medals were Teunis Takemori, Anton Shekhter, Jessica Der, Anna Bonga and Mike Hagen.

Alas there is none … yet.

The Richmond club is hoping to run regular “Weekend Races” starting in January.

Please join me in congratulating Agatha van der Starre in being named to the Burnaby Sports Hall of Fame.  The presentation ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, February 21.

Barbara Vogl,
Burnaby Haida

Agatha Vanderstarre – A Skater’s Biography
Published on: 5/12/2003

Agatha Vanderstarre – A Skater’s Biography

Agatha Vanderstarre has graced the world of speed skating in British Columbia for many years. An active member of Burnaby Haida Speed Skating Club since 1980, she has been a true ambassador for the sport, and an inspiration to skaters and racers of all ages.

Agatha learned to skate in Holland during the mid-1930’s when her father took her onto the canals to push around a chair. As she grew up, she skated from village to village, and although she raced only once competitively in the old country, she seized the opportunity to beat out the village favourite and won 10 guilders! Upon her arrival in Vancouver in 1955, Agatha continued to skate outdoors whenever the lakes froze over. Wisely, she was never the first on the ice. She always let someone else test its safety, but she was usually the last one off. Daughter Ariana remembers skating in the dark on Burnaby’s lakes, and hearing the RCMP megaphones ordering them to get off the ice!

Agatha’s love of skating endured, but seemed to be weather-dependent. In the mid 1970’s, a customer came into the ladies’ fashion store where she worked, and asked for a skating outfit. Agatha made some inquiries and found out that there was a social skating club at an arena in New Westminster. Live organ music played while skaters did their turns about the rink arm-in-arm! There Agatha connected with members of the Burnaby Haida Speed Skating Club, and became an institution of Kensington Arena. She competed in her first BC Winter Games in 1980, and although she was lapped by Ann Marshall, she was inspired to continue racing, and the rest, as they say, is history!

In 1981, Agatha became the President of the Burnaby Haida Speed Skating Club. At that time, the Club had exactly 5 members and $18.00 in its account! She held the Presidency for over 10 years, and was instrumental in keeping the Club alive. Like any volunteer, she put in endless hours supporting the sport of speed skating at the community and provincial levels. Most importantly, Agatha always actively sought out and encouraged new members. These have included Ariana who went on to become a member of BC’s Training Team and is now continuing her mother’s legacy with her own dedicated commitment as coach of the Burnaby club.

Agatha currently holds more than 40 BC, Canadian and North American records in both long track and short track, in the Master 3, Master 4 and Grand Master categories. [See the complete list attached.] Her first records came in 1991, and she continued to turn in personal bests up to and including 1998. She has raced on tracks all over BC and Canada, including Ste Foy, Ottawa, Winnipeg and the northern BC locales of Dawson Creek, FSJohn and FSJames. She continues to race as often as possible, and constantly challenges herself to best her own times. As she is about to enter a new age category, one can only anticipate that her list of records will continue to grow. One of the most impressive acknowledgments of her achievements came at the North American Short Track Championships held in Regina, March 2000. The entire Quebec Team gave Agatha a standing ovation as she approached the podium to receive her medals! This was truly a measure of her enduring reputation throughout the Canadian speed skating community!

Agatha continues to lead, inspire and motivate speed skaters in British Columbia and nationally. She practices 3 times a week, takes every opportunity to compete, and often makes the annual July trek to the Western Provinces Camp. Everywhere she goes, she is affectionately greeted by skaters of all ages who have come to know her and have had their lives touched by hers.

Agatha Vanderstarre is truly deserving of a Lifetime Membership in Speed Skate Canada. Burnaby Speed Skating Club is privileged to bestow this honour on her, and we are proud to name her as one of our own!

The end of the season is fast approaching.  The next few weeks will be very busy.  The upcoming meets are as follows

February 16-17, BC Cup #2 in Matsqui

February 22-23, BC Winter Games in Kimberley/Cranbrook

March 1-2, Southern Regional Championships in PoCo

March 8-9, BC Short Track Championships in Kelowna

All of these meets have certain eligibility criteria.  You will/have been notified if you are eligible.

Because of these competitions, the practice schedule has been modified as follows:

February 16 – Group 1 unaffected. Group 3 please attend the second session from 4:15 – 5:15 P.M.

February 26 – No change to the practice schedule.

March 1 – No practice session from 3:00 – 4:00 P.M.  Group 1 skaters not competing please attend the practice session from 4:15 – 5:15 P.M.  Group 3 unaffected.

March 8 – Group 1 unaffected. Group 3 please attend the second session from 4:15 – 5:15 P.M.

The last practice this season is Saturday, March 15.  Should we plan a small party?  Let me know by return e-mail.

If you are planning to return your equipment at the last ice session, please make sure the blades have been sharpened and indicate if you wish your deposit cheque to be returned to you or destroyed.

Thanks,

Barbara Vogl,
Burnaby Haida

Offskate and Plyometrics training video from Bill Begg (bonttv.com)

http://www.bonttv.com/view_video.php?viewkey=e414107ee22b6198c578

The program lasts around 1 hour, its recommended you have good sports shoes & either do on a sprung floor or outside on the grass, so there is some give.

This is a basic programme utilized by a number of World Champions & champions for nearly 30 years.

The sport specific section deals a bit more with skating lines of movement & more speed orientated,while the competition phase cycle is directed to speed of movement, with shorter bursts & longer rest periods.

For Full time skaters we have found that weights Monday, Wednesday & Friday, with Plyometrics / Offskate on Tuesday & Thursday brings a good balance. But when you get involved in the heavy season with hard racing every weekend, it gets down to only once per week with weights & offskate/Plyometrics.

We do our Abdominal work in the Weights Gym programme.

The General Preperation Phase is designed so that you are working on your fitness, with the repetitive exercises, as the Heart rate gets a chance to rest between hard exercises.

The program lasts around 1 hour, its recommended you have good sports shoes & either do on a sprung floor or outside on the grass, so there is some give.

GENERAL PREPERATION ( Numbers match with Video )

1/ 8 minutes -Jogging Slowly for Warm up.
2/ 10 Mins -Stretch ( All do differently, so do what used to )
3/ 2 Minutes – Skipping
4/ 4 continuos jumps x 8 times repeat
5/ 1 minute -Press Ups.
6/ 1 minute – Skip Jump with tuck, knees up to chest.
7/ 1 Minute – Bent knee sit ups, with Alterative twist, no
Hands behind head,only at side (Safety issue )
8/ 1 minute -Stride Jumps, extend legs toback & side.
9/ 1 minute -Back Extensions, opposite leg & arm raised for
about 2 sec, while lying onstomach.
10/ 1 minute -Hip extensions, no explosive movements (Safety
issue) 30 sec on each leg.
11/ 1 minute – Burpee’s, spring into air at end of each one.
12/ 1 minute -Lateral Leg Raises, raise & lower steadily, with
extended leg,while lying straight 30 sec each leg
13/ 1 minute – Skip Jumps Squat, 1,2,3 on toes then 4th squat
14/ 1 minute – Floor & Wall touches, dont move feet & twist
upper body around,to touch wall behind, with
the palms of your hands.
15/ 1 minute – Step ups, 1 foot up & two feet up, before
down, do not jump.
16/ 1 minute -Single Treadmills,( Keep back straight, back foot
extended & front knee to chest.
17/ 1 minute -Shuttle sprints, run between marks approx 20
arart TOUCH GROUND, then re-excellerate back
18/ 2 minutes – Low Walking, with knee to ground.
19/ 1 minute – Crossbacks.
20/ 1 minute – Stride Backs.
21/ 2 minutes – Gunthers, dryland skating, maintain motion
looping behind & pointing toe in, using full arms.
22/ 1 minute – Heel taps
23/ – Swing Hop 15 meters, 4 x on each leg, if hill
available, use that for exercise.
24/ 1 minute – Bounding on spot,use arms to maintain motion.
25/ 2 minutes – Wall sitting, legs at 70 degee & back straight.
26/10minutes – Slow Jogging & light static stretching to cool
Down & check if body O/K.

Bill Begg

www.bonttv.com plays host to a number of good training videos for ice and inline — a number of good dryland videos from Japan, Korea area also interesting viewing.

Here is a short inline video from Bill Begg a well known inline coach: http://www.bonttv.com/view_video.php?viewkey=7246bbde0051047b0d6f